The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 88: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. struck him as the result of the first few moments’ siirvey : and he had little leisure to regard her any longer—for he was almost instantaneously called pun to some prompt and decisive course of action by the demand which Lady Bess at once made for | the surrender up of purses and jewels. She had not expected to find two gentlemen seated inside the vehicle; and on discovering that there were two she immediately apprehended resistance. Therefore, drawing forth a pocket-pistol, she pre- sented it at the window, saying in the roughest tone to which she could possibly disguise her voice, * Quick, quick, gentlemen! Your purses, your watches, and so forth !” “ No—by heaven! not without a struggle for it exclaimed Mr. Malton, who was a man of undaunted courage; and as he spoke he dashed open the door and sprang forth from the vehicle with a gold- headed cane in his hand. The abrupt opening of the door made Lady Bess’s horse suddenly shy and veer round; and she, being at the instant unprepared for such a movement, was thrown heavily. Mr. Malton, with admirable pre- sence of mind, clutched the horse’s bridle with one hand, while with the other he snatched up the pistol which Lady Bess had let drop and which had hap- pened not to explode. Mr. Marlow, the elder partner, encouraged by the resolute bravery of his friend, likewise sprang forth; and percéiving at a glance that the highwayman who lay upon the ground was either stunned or killed by the fall, he seized upon the legs of Chiffin the Cannibal who had mounted to the box. “This scoundrel is killed!” ejaculated Mr. Malton, alluding to Lady Bess, who lay quite motionless. “The deuce !” exclaimed Chiffin: and violently disengaging himself from the hold which Mr. Mar- low had fastened upon him, he sprang down from the box and rushed away as fast as his legs would carry him. Mr. Marlow was thrown to the ground by the sudden violence of the Cannibal: but instantly rising to his feet, he shook himself, not merely for the purpose of casting off the dust which his gar- ments had gathered by rolling in it, but likewise to assure himself that he had no broken bones. While however he was still somewhat uncertain on the latter point, his thoughts were quickly startled into another channel by an ejaculation which burst from the lips of his partner. “Why, by heaven, it is a woman!” exclaimed Mr. Malton, who had just stooped down to ascer- tain whether the highwayman was actually killed or only stunned by the severe fall experienced from the horse. * A woman!” echoed Mr. Marlow, likewise stoop- ing down. “ Aye, and avery handsome one into the bargain!’—for his partner had plucked the black mask from her countenance. “ But, dear me! I am very much mistaken if I don’t know this face yes, and that horse too——why, to be sure, I eannot be deceived! I have seen this woman—a lady I always thought her—riding about Totten- ham and Edmonton on that very horse—but not in this attire though—in a proper female riding-habit. John, hav’n’t you seen this lady P” “Never mind asking any questions now,” said Mr. Malton somewhat impatiently. ‘ Seo, she lives—she opens her eyes!” 9? 193 ee 71 And it was so. Lady Bess had been merely stuaned by the fall; and consciousness rapidly re- turning, she became aware of the position in which she was placed—a prisoner 1n the hands of the two attorneys. “Are you hurt, young woman?” demanded Mr. Malton with a sternness that was only tempered by a feeling of humanity. * No—I think not,’ answered Lady Bess, rising to her feet: then, while she was rapidly calculating the chances of escape, Mr. Malton seized her by the coat-collar while Mr. Marlow clutched her by the arm. “This is a deed on your part which we cannot overlook,” said the former. * Certainly not,” promptly added the latter. “As lawyers we must obey the law; and the law forbids us to let a felon escape.” “Tcan scarcely expect any forbearance at your hands under the circumstances,” responded Lady Bess; “and Lam not going to ask it. Do with me as you will:’—and she not only spoke in a firm tone, but likewise displayed a resolute dauntless- ness of manner which quite astonished the two lawyers “ What on earth are we to do with her?” asked Mr. Marlow. “Take her on to Edmonton and give her to the police,’ was Mr. Malton’s reply. “You are known, young woman—you are known,” said Marlow, as talkative as he was bustling, and now labouring under the greatest excitement. “TI have seen you gallopping about on this splendid dark chesnut of your’s—but in a costume more be- fitting your sex. Why, ’pon my soul! I took you for alady. I say, John, I have often noticed her to you—and I remember you mentioned her name once. What was it P” “ Sir,” immediately interposed Lady Bess, who was chivalrously resolved to screen the treacherous servant, and thus save him from the perplexity of having to answer questions by the replies to which he might fear to compromise her, and thus in his hesitation draw suspicion on himself; “ I will at once candidly and frankly inform you that I live near Tottenham—close at hand indeed—and that I pass by the name of Mrs. Chandos.” “Chandos, to be sure!” ejaculated the volatile Marlow: “that is it!’ * And now,” Lady Bess immediately went on to observe, “although I seek no forbearance at your hands, I will request this little favour—that you permit me to call at my abode ere you consign me to the custody of the authorities, so that I may ac- quaint my servant with the position in which I am placed.” «“ Well, I see no harm in that,” exclaimed Mr. Marlow. ‘ Eh, Malton—what do you say?” “T do not wish to behave harshly or cruelly to the unhappy young woman,” was the latter gentle- man’s more measured response. “My house is yonder—the white cottage which you see amongst the trees in that lane to the left :” —and Lady Bess extended her arm in the direction which she indicated. «Well then, how shall we manage?” exclaimed Marlow. “Oh, I know! We will fasten the horse by the bridle to the carriage, and take our prisoner inside with us. Hera, you hold her tight, Malton, a a a ee eee COMMICclMooolkxs (CO)